Silly season transfer rumours III...

First topic message reminder :

Previous seasonal silliness:
https://www.606v2.com/t57129-silly-season-transfer-rumours
https://www.606v2.com/t58562-silly-season-transfer-rumours-continued


The place to confirm rumours, deny them, or viciously start new ones of your own.

LondonTiger wrote:

BamBam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Would that make Underhill eligible for Wales U20 then?

After 3 years he'd be Wales eligible

U20 is the officially designated Second string side for Wales, thus to play for that team you need to have full eligibility. So no, atm Underhill is not eligible for Wales U20s.

Fair, but playing for Wales U20 wouldn't tie him to us, unless he played against France I think? Has Underhill been selected for your U20s?

Nope, he hasn't

Does he qualify for Wales now or just America and us? No point in rushing him if there's no need, plus it would be to the Saxons rather than U20s to have any affect on eligibility.

He's only been in Wales for four months since Uni started in September and wont qualify until 2018. There's no way he would want to play for Wales though when he's a passionate Englishman whos come through their system and captained England under 18's. It's a different situation to Ben Morgan or Tomas Francis who didn't come up through the English pathway system.

I just hope money isnt thrown at him to leave the Ospreys where he's clearly developing and learning off quality back rows such as Lydiate and Tipuric

I'm not sure how Morgan and Francis work in that example?

both had the option of representing wales and Ben Morgan was tempted too as he made his name playing in Wales. If Sam Underhill qualifies on residency then its unlikely he'll want to play for Wales as he knows hes on Englands radar

Yeah Morgan said he was English and his dream slightly before he qualified, Francis that he was annoyed people were picked ahead of him for age grades. Moriarty as he was offered the chance from Wales first.

Just not sure representing a counrty at age grade holds that much sway for players in respect of who they end up with.

Underhill will definitely know that he is on England's radar, Richard Hill and Joe Lydon have been down to watch him play for the Ospreys.  He's not in the U20's, but it would not shock me if he was in the Saxons, Jones name checked him his 'work in progress list'.

On the Facebook group the rumour is Underhill is off to Bath for next season. Flatman bigged him up on the AP highlights show the other week.

True Raven wrote:both had the option of representing wales and Ben Morgan was tempted too as he made his name playing in Wales.  If Sam Underhill qualifies on residency then its unlikely he'll want to play for Wales as he knows hes on Englands radar

Ben Morgan made his name playing for the mighty IronMen, Merthyr Tydfil.

It was Bill Beaumont and Joe Lydon that were at the liberty but my point is that just because hes been in Wales for four months doesn't mean he wants to play for Wales when hes already captained the country hes supported from birth.

Also going to Bath would be a big mistake for him, don't know why he would want to leave the Ospreys. Hes not international standard yet but could be in a few years

Agreed Raven. He's getting game time and mentored at a good level. Bath are not settled this season so if he signs for them now he might be playing for a different head coach at the start of next season when he gets there and who knows whether that new coach will be the right fit for him.

So we know that Underhill is on Eddie Jones radar and was England U18 captain (last season?).

However he has gone to University in Cardiff and signed up to play for Bridgend while at uni. (I assume Bridgend are a feeder club for Ospreys?) He is now in the position where he cannot play for either Wales at U20s (Wales second team, so not eligible even though only matches against France seal your fate) or full level, but is also unable to represent England teams as not in the English system.

Thus he either has to park representative ambitions for 3 years (other than Welsh Universities) or sign up with an English club that is close enough to Cardiff to be able to commute.

Correct LT, he's signed to Bridgend so can study economics at Cardiff. This enables him to play for the ospreys as understudy to tipuric. I should add he was in school last year so has years left to make an impression for England and England have way too much depth in the back row for him to be considered at this moment. Therefore he should be left alone to continue his development in south wales. The only way he should be allowed to leave his contract early is with a swap to Gloucester to bring Moriarty home

As he left Glaws academy I believe to go to Uni, not so likely

LT - If he wishes to simultaneously continue his studies and play in England then he could opt to transfer to another university for the coming September.

That said I hope he stays at Ospreys when he is getting good game time and being mentored well.

That was meant tongue in cheek mind. However, the Swansea boys in Gloucester's team will come home soon

apparently Sale have some big name signings to announce for next season

He could in theory still be called up, he's not moved to Wales for rugby reason end of the day.

nathan wrote:apparently Sale have some big name signings to announce for next season

Webber apparently is on the way, but he's not really a big name

He's a fat lad. Maybe they got big and fat mixed up?

Bathite wrote:

nathan wrote:apparently Sale have some big name signings to announce for next season

Webber apparently is on the way, but he's not really a big name

Steve Diamond has said they're in talks with four or five internationals. Presume Webber is one of those. Unsure who the others may be. Guess another PI player.

Thread on the 606 fb group says that Underhill, is switching uni and joining Bath. No supporting evidence and it could be a urine take, but there we are...

Well then bath are a bunch of mugs, cos he signed a long term deal so they have to pay out his contract and a transfer fee on a player who's played about 6 professional games....what a bunch of idiots

Sounds par for the course for Bath. They bought out Denton's contract didn't they.

Still hope he stays at the Ospreys and keeps getting experience as currently that'll be best for his development. He can return to England and the AP in a couple of seasons.

Well from reading this thread, buying out dentons contract seemed money well spent.....

If Underhill is at Cardiff Uni, why not just commute to Bristol rather than Swansea? It is about 30-40 minute drive and at worst they are a top (read big spending) Championship side with a top forwards coach in Robinson. At best, they are Aviva next year and will likely invest significantly in the squad, but will lack depth enough to require him to play a few times should he do well.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Not a player but O'Shea to leave Quins at the end of the season..............Where to one wonders

Italy job is the rumour

Could be Munster?

Here's an unexpected one ..

Alex Spink (Mirror rugby journo) has just tweeted

"Toulon want to join English Premiership. No, really. Prem Rugby confirm they've received letter. Say "too early to make a formal response"

Edit - link with further info

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/premiership/12112574/Toulon-hoping-to-quit-Top-14-and-join-Aviva-Premiership.html

Duncan Weir is off to Edinburgh then.
A good move for Scottish rugby I think. Having him and Russell as the two leading 10s playing.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/35394715

Remember his super drop-goal? It was probably the only good thing he's done.

*Have I mixed Weir up with Phil Godman?

Plenty of TRP rumours

Craig Willis ----> Tigers (Falcons fans would love that, I would be pretty pleased with it too)
Pearce -------> Sale (Shame IMO)
Flood --------> Sale/Bristol (Big drop for Floody)
Cips ---------> Quins (Makes perfect sense)
Andy symons -> London Irish

I suspect Pearce was only up in Sale to pressure Tigers into hurrying his negotiations along. He's a Leicester lad and it's his childhood club. Add in to that he's getting closer to being a regular selection in the squad.

Willis would be an odd move. Given we have two tens who aren't getting much attention internationally plus Toomua arriving next season we have three first choice players before we look at our own youngsters. Not a bad move for us but for him, he's going from fighting his way up the pecking order to regular game time to being fourth choice and a bench option at best. He'd be better signing a short term contract and keeping an eye on the Owen Williams situation.

Wasps have confirmed the signing of Martin Moore

Keith Earls apparently moving to Saracens

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/munster-rugby/munster-shock-as-keith-earls-close-to-saracens-switch-34395724.html

Could be agent speculation used to try and increase the Irish contract on the table. Not specifics used in his interstellar to leave Ireland.

Interesting bit at the bottom about Moore trying to stall the Wasps deal and having reservations. Wonder if that is internationally motivated or something else.

Earls to Saracens I suspect is true. Apparently his daughter has a rare genetic condition and receives regular treatment at a hospital in London. Moving closer would appear to be a reasonable move.

That would explain it Ozzy.

Rugby paper rumour- Cipriani to activate his get out clause with Sale...

Who's this Japanese tight head we've signed?

ChequeredJersey wrote:Rugby paper rumour- Cipriani to activate his get out clause with Sale...

and join Quins with Flood his replacement at Sale. Which Quins ten would be out the door though and could Quins afford to keep him and Evans on the books?

Rumour of a signing announcement from us today. Not Bell or Symons who have been recently rumoured in TRP, although I am.lead to believe those may have signed also.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Rugby paper rumour- Cipriani to activate his get out clause with Sale...

and join Quins with Flood his replacement at Sale. Which Quins ten would be out the door though and could Quins afford to keep him and Evans on the books?

Increase in salary cap. Evans possibly on a contract to switch slowly from playing into coaching. This is our first link for next year, most of our major rivals have signed at least one international already

I was thinking more of an out of balanced squad. Two high earning tens with two more tens on fair money. Good chunk of cap spent on one area. Evans might have a contract that changes after a given time and moves him more and more towards a player/coach role. His last contract was a lengthy one so that would be in line with good succession planning.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/35418889

Probably a decent signing, but what is going on behind the doors at Kingston Park.

I strongly suspect Evans will join the coaching staff. He's got the temperament to coach and already mentors our young players, but not really to commentate/do punditry, and his family are now set in London. Think that would be a draw for Cips alongside his mate Care being here, Quins playing a style he should suit, London, Quins getting players into the England squad. I just hope that our team character doesn't take a hit after Conor leaves.

Also, if Nev switches to a (occasional) player-coach role, I suspect his place as a marquee will change, and someone else can take that

formerly known as Sam wrote:I was thinking more of an out of balanced squad. Two high earning tens with two more tens on fair money. Good chunk of cap spent on one area. Evans might have a contract that changes after a given time and moves him more and more towards a player/coach role. His last contract was a lengthy one so that would be in line with good succession planning.

Swiel is being groomed as a 15 who covers 10 though

I think Botica can come good - he just needs consistent game time.

propdavid_london wrote:I think Botica can come good - he just needs consistent game time.

I think he'll be a perfectly adequate back up. I don't think he'll ever be a top starting 10